Monrovia, Liberia– The Office of the Presidential Press Secretary of Liberian has expressed concern about a number of what it terms inaccurate, unfair, and unbalanced reports on President George Manneh Weah’s recent international engagements that have been made by opposition individuals and some media sources. According to an Executive Mansion release on Friday, November 25, 2022, the press office noted that the attitude is disrespect and indiscipline displayed by Mo Ali an opposition senior member, who is attempting to sow the seeds of conflict between the Executive and Legislative Branches of Government, are particularly salient. “Without regard for God, he accuses the President of lying in one of the accounts.”
“Unfortunately, the Liberian opposition groups and those who support them have kept spreading untrue rumors and propaganda that the country’s leader left on October 31. One of these individuals is the journalist Mr. Jonathan Paye-Layleh, who has declared his desire to run for office in Liberia. When President George Manneh Weah left Liberia before drafting the National Legislature, Paye-Layleh misled the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) with a torrent of inaccurate facts and prejudiced reports. Others have falsely claimed that the President’s planned trip to Qatar was for him to watch his son compete in the World Cup, not for any good of Liberia.”
The Presidential Press Secretary’s office stated that the President’s travels are formal international engagements that started with the timely notification of the 54th Legislature and that the excursions have been extremely beneficial for Liberia. On November 1, 2022, President Weah departed Liberia on a Special Flight that had been organized and paid for by King Mohamed VI of Morocco.
The Press Office noted that the President’s participation at this year’s MEDay Forum in Morocco, where over 5000 world leaders and activists gathered, paid off almost immediately with a number of commitments: the transformation of the National Port Authority by Tangier Mediterranean Port Authority; a US$50 million investment package from the Government of Hungary; 25 scholarships for meritorious Liberians from the Government of Hungary; flights from Liberia to Cape Verde and Southern Africa.
The President’s recent international trips included attending the COP27 UN Global Climate Change Conference in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. Liberia made a compelling argument that is securing commitments in the millions of dollars as a member of the community of countries and a front-runner affected by the effects of climate change. Prior to attending the Paris Peace Forum, President Weah attended COP27.
“Let it be known that President Weah was chosen by his African counterparts as the Climate Change Champion at the Glasgow Conference, COP26, held in 2021, lest the unfortunate opposition and unpatriotic elements forget. As a result, the Liberian President was awarded the pleasure of speaking at COP27. During his statement, he urged international leaders to support those nations that are most affected by climate change while protecting their biodiversity, such as the Guinea Forest. In addition to the tens of millions of dollars in funding earmarked for these nations, including Liberia, the Egyptian company SAMCO has promised to build the roads connecting Greenville and Buchanan as well as Zwedru and Greenville. If the aforementioned benefits are not substantial ones for the nation, the doubters must account for their mental state.”
President Weah departed Egypt for France on November 9, 2022, in order to attend the Paris Peace Forum (PPC) and other events from November 11 to November 15, 2022, including a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron and other development partners. Mr. Weah hosted a town hall meeting for the European and Liberian Communities.
The Presidential Press Office reports that following the President’s prior participation in the Paris Peace Forum, Liberia’s TVET program got over ten million euros and opened doors for more French involvement in the country’s growth. Despite all the positive news that has been widely broadcast on the President’s trips, it is distressing to observe that some misinformed people would misreport the President’s engagement as being mere hoopla without value to the country. On November 18, 2022, and November 15, 2022, the Liberian leader boarded a commercial jet operated by Qatar Airways to Doha while his colleagues were traveling to Qatar on charter and private flights. He did this despite being fraudulently exposed by opposition forces for political reasons. There was only one flight available on November 18, 2022.
“The President only made decisions that benefited Liberia. Whenever he had the chance while traveling, he took part in all of these foreign engagements for Liberia’s development in order to conserve the country’s resources. The President’s trip to Qatar is about far more than just seeing his son compete in the World Cup. President Weah was once an ambassador for the Qatar World Cup bid and is a proud member of the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) Hall of Fame, which needs to be reminded to those who have easily forgotten. Additionally, the Liberian leader received invitations to Qatar in three different capacities: former ambassador for the World Cup bid, FIFA Hall of Famer, and state visits (bilateral meetings).”
The Press Office added that President Weah had the opportunity to see a few previous world club matches, it is crucial to note for people who may not be aware of this. Prior to becoming President, he attended the World Cups in South Africa (2010) and Brazil (2014) at the request of FIFA, South Africa, and Brazil. Detractors’ claims that the President traveled to the Qatar World Club to watch his son play are untrue and just propaganda. The President would be proud, as any good father would be, to watch his child play while in Qatar for the previously stated reasons, even though it is just a coincidence.
“Which real or serious parents would not be proud watching their children play at the world’s most prestigious tournaments, let alone the FIFA World Cup? Only wicked parents or envious people who don’t have a son or daughter would do so.”
Liberia’s Presidential Press Office has reported that President Weah is engaging with partners and members of the business community in Qatar for the World Cup, and has a planned bilateral meeting with His Highness, Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani scheduled for November 29, 2022, before his departure for Monaco. Mr. Weah will meet the Prince of Monaco while in Monaco and speak at the Sports for Development Forum. President Weah will then travel to the United States of America on December 3, 2022, for Joe Biden’s African Summit after his engagement with the King of Monaco. The President arrives in Miami to meet with a few American investors who are eager to learn more about the friendly and untapped market in Liberia. Following those appearances, the President travels to New York for a few meetings, including one with Achim Steiner, the Director of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The UNDP and Liberia are expected to complete the arrangements for community-driven initiatives during that meeting.
“The Biden Africa Summit is coming up on December 13–15, 2022, and the opposition is vehemently opposed to President Weah participating. In addition to the summit, President Weah is anticipated to have bilateral and multilateral talks with Joseph R. Biden and other leaders present at the Biden African Forum another terrifying event that Liberia’s disgruntled opposition cannot afford to witness. Liberians can rest assured that as the President continues his international engagements, his beloved nation, Liberia, will be on his mind constantly and that he will use every moment of his time to look for and bring back benefits for the people of Liberia, as is frequently the case with his travels.”
